Ledbetter takes life sentence in double-murder plea

Husband still in plea talks

A Lubbock woman facing two counts of capital murder pleaded guilty Tuesday in exchange for a life sentence.

Meredith Ledbetter is accused with her husband, Casey, in the deaths of Derek Ryan Hale and Joanie Deeanne Parker. The bodies were found buried near each other on the same real estate parcel near Idalou in May 2011.

Hale’s body was badly decomposed.

Sheriff’s investigators believe the Ledbetters lured Parker to her death by telling her to bring $4,000 that would be used to get her son out of trouble.

Casey Ledbetter’s case is still pending, and has a plea conference hearing tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1.